Claudia - LSE Summer School: Session Two

Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)/Commerce

July 2018

My experience

At LSE I studied an Introductory Macroeconomics course, which I believe was an excellent introduction to economics and first impression of the university. The course itself was more thorough than a standard introductory course back home, and covered many fundamental concepts which will prove to be very worthwhile to my degree. The method of teaching was more theory based than what I am used to, however exposed me to the standards of international universities. The standard of teaching was very high, yet the exams were manageable, leaving plenty of time for exploring London. My favourite aspect of studying overseas, was studying with a diverse range of people from all over the world, whilst the location of the university in central London made for easy exploring and allowed me to be a part of the bustling London lifestyle.

How has the experience changed you?

This experience has changed me in various way. On a personal level, I have gained independence and now feel confident to live and travel in a foreign country, knowing that I'm capable of navigating and making friends. I am also more open to people, ideas and opportunities that I previously were not. Academically, I am now open to new ways of teaching, and appreciate the difference in standards between countries, and I ultimately have developed greater communication skills and cultural awareness, having to interact with people from different countries.

Favourite memory

One of my favourite memories from the experience was watching England vs. Croatia in the World Cup Semi Final, in a small underground sports bar in Soho. The atmosphere was incredible, with pubs packed to the brim with locals and foreigners all in support of England.

Other notable memories included, enjoying lunches in the park with friends from around the world, a piano bar where the live band played only crowd requests and the Summer School Sunset Cruise, where the Tower Bridge opened just for us to sail under.

Top tips

Tips for future participants include trying to get into contact with people who have done a similar or the identical exchange before. This way, you can receive advice on the best places to stay, what to pack, what to do, which ultimately will make your trip easier to organise.
Another tip would be reaching out to students from your home university also going on the exchange. This way, you already know people who are going, can discuss accommodation arrangements or potentially share accommodation to reduce costs, or just simply feel more confident knowing fellow UQ students are overseas with you.

Funding

I received a $1000 Travel Grant from UQ. This funding was put towards the cost of the course, which helped ease the financial strain. Whilst the experience was expensive, having to pay international fees for the course, the support received and my personal gains were definitely worth the money. With so many funding options also available, I believe these experiences are worth the costs involved.